Animals In PrintThe On-Line NewsletterJuly 10, 2012

NSAID's: What Are They and Why Are They Killing Our Dogs?

Death by Previcox

"Before administering ANY medication, know what the side effects are. I
learned the hard way."- Mel

Rowdy’s Last Vacation

Our beautiful, healthy, two year old Labrador Retriever named Rowdy is
dead. He did not die from the impact of the car that struck him and sped
away without stopping.* Nor did he die from the lacerations, contusions and
hairline fractured pelvis the x-rays revealed.

Rowdy died because I violated my number one rule when it comes to
prescription drugs, "Always ask about possible side effects before
administering." I have preached this for years to others and yet, in my
agitated state and wanting to give our dog much needed relief, I neglected
to follow my own advice. Please read the following before reading of our
experience.

Is your dog receiving the correct dosage of Previcox? Our emails show
that many dogs are prescribed doses above what Merial, the makers of
Previcox, suggest.

· Drinks more than the usual amount of water in a short period of time,
cannot seem to drink enough water.

· Vomits, (throws up food and/or water) regularly.

· Diarrhea, poo looks black, tarry or bloody.

· Urination (peeing) habits change. Dog needs to pee often and the color
is off. The urine may smell unusual or there may be blood in the urine.

· Lethargic, no energy, lies in one spot for hours without moving.

· Agitated (restless) or uncomfortable for no apparent reason.

· Heavy panting or breathing.

· Cannot walk properly or cannot walk without support.

· Slow to respond to commands or does not respond at all, seems unaware
of surroundings.

· Seizures- legs go rigid or dog has no control over their body
movements.

· Gums going pale, yellow or grey.

· Whites of eyes look yellow or jaundiced.

· Skin changes may occur. Redness, scabs or intense itching followed by
scratching and biting of skin. Skin may look like it is burned as a result
of a reaction to the drug.

· Loses weight in a short amount of time.

· Aggressive behaviour, tries to nip or bite.

If you would like to share your Previcox experience with us,
please submit the following:

Photo of your dogDog's name, age, weight and your geographic location
Why Previcox was prescribed and dosage (57 or 227mg)Length of time given
Case number from MerialSend to: mel.k911.biz@gmail.com

Previcox reports from dog owners

This is our experience...

Thursday, March 22, 2007. We were on vacation out of state with our dogs
Rowdy and Duke when the accident occurred. The vet said Rowdy suffered a
hairline fracture of the pelvis but that he thought he would be okay. He
gave us a bottle containing five tablets of Previcox. Previcox (firocoxib)
is a Cox-2 inhibitor and is an NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug)
produced by Merial Ltd., an animal health subsidiary of Merck and Co. Inc.
and Aventis, S.A.

The label stated '1 times daily for 5 days'. No information regarding
side effects was offered, nor did I have the presence of mind to ask. On
this holiday, we did not have access to the internet to research the
medication given. Had we been aware of any of the side effects, we may have
had a completely different outcome. Little did we realize that with each
pill we were doling out death to our beloved Rowdy.

Friday morning, we dutifully began his doses. Rather than give him a
whole 57mg tablet as prescribed, we chose to administer half a tablet in the
morning and half that evening so he could rest comfortably at night. Prior
to administering the Previcox (firocoxib), he had a normal appetite and
drank water as usual.

Saturday morning he refused to eat or drink anything, so no pill was
given him. Later that evening he seemed to be perking up so again, I offered
him food which he ate and water which he drank and drank. I thought nothing
of it, nor did I give him any of the medication.

Sunday he seemed even better, alert and wagging his tail, he actually
rolled over for a belly scratch. He tried his best to get up but the
fractured pelvis prevented him from doing so, so we slipped a long towel
around his abdomen and gently lifted him to his feet. This tried and true
method was used long ago for Gimpy and Jack, two dogs we found at different
times who had suffered the same fate. Gimpy's broken pelvis was so severe
that the vet said he would have immediately put her down had she been to the
clinic that evening. Fortunately for her, it was almost midnight and back
then, there were no emergency vet clinics anyway.

Gimpy and Jack both received low dose aspirin (also an NSAID), for
inflammation and pain and made a full recovery, living many happy years
thereafter. Since Rowdy's injury was nowhere near what Gimpy or Jack had
suffered, we opted not to give him any Previcox (firocoxib) on Sunday.

Monday, we began our nine hour trip toward home. We decided rather than
half a tablet, Rowdy would require a whole tablet (as the vet prescribed) to
make him comfortable for the long ride. Less than an hour after
administering the Previcox, his breathing became labored and many times he
rigidly stretched out his neck and legs. Thinking he may have been too warm,
we turned down the air conditioning, which seemed to help. When we stopped
for a break, he drank more water than usual.

Tuesday came and he seemed very tired. Although he ate and drank, he did
not have the stamina to hold himself up. We had to help him walk outside and
once there, he would stand in one spot as if he were in a daze. We then had
to carry him back inside as he would not move on his own. We chalked up this
behaviour to the grueling car ride the day before.

That evening, again trying to make him as comfortable as possible, we
gave him a whole 57mg Previcox tablet, his first tablet of the day. By
midnight, he was projectile vomiting. Suspect that projectile vomiting is a
symptom of poisoning - the body may be aggressively trying to rid itself of
a toxin. Drug-overdose patients often experience projectile vomiting. From
the article: How to Understand Projectile Vomiting.

Several times during the night and early into the next morning, he
vomited until he was physically worn out. He shivered uncontrollably
followed by heavy panting and then throwing his head far back, he would hold
his mouth open wide as if trying to draw in more oxygen. Then all four legs
would stiffen out straight. In the early morning hours, he pawed my arm
several times in a frantic gesture for help as I lay beside him. His gums
were starting to go greyish in colour.

Wednesday early morning, he was immediately taken to our vet and put on
an IV. We were told to check on him at four-thirty that afternoon.
Meanwhile, I phoned Merial, the makers of Previcox (firocoxib) and told them
of the situation. I asked how long until the drug would be completely out of
his system and was told eight hours and that there would be "no reach back
residual effects" once it was eliminated.

I then went online and started reading about Previcox (firocoxib) and
carpofen (Rimadyl), meloxicam (Deramaxx) and other NSAID’s, some of which
had been pulled from the market after many dog deaths. We felt certain that
with what we were told by Merial, the IV would flush the drug from his
system and that evening he would be back to his usual self.

When we arrived at the clinic, the woman at the front desk said we could
go back where the kennels were, to see Rowdy. As we moved down the hallway,
an assistant stopped us and asked us to wait where we were. I thought
perhaps they were situating an animal from surgery into one of the kennels,
so never thought anything about it.

The vet approached and asked "Are you here to see the dog that passed?"
We looked at each other dumbfounded as I said "No!" "Not MY dog!" He said
Rowdy died shortly after noon.

I was numb. For a moment I could not cry or even speak as he led us to
the area where Rowdy lay motionless in the kennel. Anyone who has ever
experienced a situation similar to this, knows the gut-punched feeling that
accompanies unexpected bad news. We were in total disbelief as we gathered
up his lifeless body and brought him home for burial.

The next day I spoke with the same person at Merial who had given me a
case number the day before. When I questioned why vets were not given the
CIS (Client Information Sheet) regarding NSAIDS, I was told they could “Send
off for the information if they choose to.” Drugs which can and do adversely
affect our animals are routinely dispensed without any information. Why is
that?

Would it not be good practice for vets to provide their clients with a
CIS before prescribing any medication, thus allowing the owner to make an
informed decision regarding their dog’s health and well being? My vet had
never heard of any dog having a bad reaction to this medication and said he
routinely prescribed Previcox since it was one of the “safer drugs”.

"There’s clearly a breach between what veterinarians are reporting and
what groups on the Internet contend." Quote from Dr. Larry Glickman,
professor of epidemiology and environmental medicine at Purdue University
School of Veterinary Medicine on ProHeart 6, (an injectible heartworm
medication by Fort Dodge) reformulated in 2002 but pulled from the market in
2004 after numerous canine deaths.

In 2008 ProHeart 6 was reintroduced to the market. It was not
reformulated.

Previcox's own website under the tab Previcox FAQ states:

Which dogs should not take PREVICOX?Your dog should not be given
PREVICOX if he/she: Has had (Merial added the word "had" to their literature
in 2009) an allergic reaction to firocoxib, the active ingredient in
PREVICOX.

Nearly all pet medications warn against use if the animal is allergic to
<insert active ingredient name>. The problem lies with the fact that until a
drug is administered, how do you know if your pet is allergic to the main
ingredient? Such was the case with Rowdy, a healthy, two year old dog, who
had never been on any medication. How could we have known?

An article published in 2006, entitled 'Why is Fido dead? Prescription
drugs are killing dogs, too.', named Previcox (firocoxib), along with other
NSAID drugs as being responsible for 22,000 cases of illness in dogs, almost
3,000 of which were fatal. The FDA website also carries this warning: NSAID
medicines can cause ulcers and bleeding in the stomach and intestines at any
time during treatment. Ulcers and bleeding can happen without warning
symptoms and may cause death.

A Previcox ad notes the following, "In rare situations, death has been
reported as an outcome of the adverse events listed above." Really? Are over
3,000 NSAID deaths (and counting) considered 'rare'?

Reports of adverse and fatal reactions to Previcox abound on websites and
blogs. Tragic experiences, one after another are cited while the veterinary
world by and large has been lulled into thinking that Previcox (firocoxib)
is the panacea for all breeds.

How many deaths are mistakenly attributed to old age or a 'pre-existing
condition' while the real culprit is the prescribed drug? According to
emails we have received ( Previcox experiences from other dog owners
)gastric ulcers, renal failure and heart failure have been linked directly
to this drug.

Other options which may have proven effective for Rowdy were unknown to
us. Christie Keith, in her article "What the FDA wants your vet to tell
you", shares information as to what vets should be telling their clients and
which drugs can safely be used with NSAIDS for gastrointestinal protection.
Arthritis in dogs cannot be cured, but it can be treated... (direct quote
from Merials website) Anything can be treated. If arthritis is incurable,
why not use safer alternatives which are effective while not being cost
prohibitive? Turmeric is one suggestion.

After putting my thoughts into this article, I contacted the veternarian
out of state who initially treated Rowdy while we were on holiday. His
office manager asked why I wanted to speak with him and after I told her I
was looking to get Rowdy's record, she told me the vet was unavailable. I
waited until the next week to call again, hoping I could speak directly with
him but again, the office manager intervened and this time told me they had
no record of my dog being treated at their facility.

Excluding the vet and his office manager, there were four of us at the
vet's office that day with Rowdy, so there was no denying he was treated at
their veterinary clinic. Do I believe the vet intentionally harmed Rowdy?
Absolutely not. He seemed genuinely concerned about his well being. I do
believe however, that denying he was treated at their facility, puts them in
a bad light and makes me question their motive for so doing.

Rowdy has now become another statistic, case number 07-18129 in the ever
mounting deaths in which Merial claims no responsibility. They did respond
with, “We are sorry for your loss.”

By law, drug companies are required to report adverse effects to the FDA.
Anyone whose dog has suffered Previcox (firocoxib) poisoning should contact
Merial for a case number as soon as possible. Your report to Merial advises
them as to what is occurring in real life cases, not clinical trials and
affords them the opportunity to update their list of side effects included
with their warning. Merial's website with phone numbers for all geographic
locations is:

Contact Merial and report any issues with Previcox

The “Boys”

We had some land that we loved soAnd to it often we all would go

As the doors slid open and we watched them runOur beautiful boys
crossed fields in the sun

Flushing out a rabbit, it disappeared into thin airThey then tussled
with each other, they hadn’t a care

But Rowdy's now gone and Duke wanders aloneA bit unsure of what to do
on his own

And now as the doors slide open againDuke steps out slowly, minus his
friend

It is never the same, it never can beNo, life’s not the same without
his Rowdy

If
your dog is displaying symptoms of Previcox poisoning and you are not able
to immediately take him to a qualified vet, consider using activated
charcoal to help rid his system of the toxin if it has been less than an
hour after taking the drug.

Mandatory Client Information Sheet

More Previcox Information

* Rowdy was not roaming freely about when he was struck by the vehicle.
We were visiting with friends in their fenced in back yard when our friend,
a beekeeper, noticed his bees swarming and leaving the yard. Trying to keep
them in sight, he was looking up while opening the gate and that is when
Rowdy beside him, darted across the road toward a dog who had been barking
most of the morning.

One individual, who wanted to see what occurred with their dog Scamp when
he took this drug, tested the Previcox on their own liver functions. Note:
They did not take the drug themselves. Below is their report.

I got a friend who is a practitioner, to test the last half of the
Previcox tablet on me. I am 3 times my dog's weight and the tablet took down
my liver function, spleen, duodenum and worst of all was the kidney and
gallbladder function, both down big time. Also caused inflammation big time
on liver. We first tested my organ functions, then we put the tablet in/on
the machine and by putting in the differing organ ampoules again we were
able to test the ill effects the Previcox tablet had on my varying organ
functions. This as you know had a devastating and frightening ill effects on
my organ function. Even more so when taking into account the big difference
in Scamp's body weight compared to my own. The results are the same as if I
had taken the tablet orally. For a drug that is supposed to cure
inflammation we put it against my tester ampoule for cortisol, which I am
sure you know is what prevents inflammation. It took my cortisol levels way
down as well and this, with me at 60kg on only a half a tablet! No wonder
the poor dogs get so sick and my dog at 20kg got so very sick on 2 and half
tablets.

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